Exploring Leadership

Individual, Organizational, and Societal Perspectives

Richard Bolden, Jonathan Gosling, Beverley Hawkins, and Scott Taylor

Broad, yet critically informed, overview of the field of leadership studies

Up-to-date review of contemporary theory and research

Sets out implications for development and practice

Accessibly written with lively practical examples by a team of leading experts

Multidisciplinary approach

Exploring Leadership

Individual, Organizational, and Societal Perspectives

Richard Bolden, Jonathan Gosling, Beverley Hawkins, and Scott Taylor

Description

Are leaders born or made? Does each society get the leaders it deserves? How--and why--is leadership "rhetoric" different from leadership in reality?

Leadership is one of the most talked about yet least understood concepts in current business and society. This book explores how theoretical models and views of leadership have evolved over time, how leadership should be discussed from individual, organizational, and societal perspectives, and the perennial dilemmas and emerging perspectives of leadership. Positioning its discussion within a multidisciplinary framework that touches on management, sociology, philosophy, anthropology, history, literature, and politics, this book examines and critiques the common assumptions that inform the ways in which leaders and leadership is recognized, rewarded, and developed. It provides a valuable and thought-provoking overview for students and academics interested in leadership and management, practicing leaders, leadership development consultants, and policy makers.

Exploring Leadership

Individual, Organizational, and Societal Perspectives

Richard Bolden, Jonathan Gosling, Beverley Hawkins, and Scott Taylor

Author Information

Richard Bolden's current research interests include distributed/shared leadership, leadership in higher education, cross-cultural leadership, and the relationship between leadership development and performance management. Teaching responsibilities include the Exeter MBA, CPD award, BA in Management and Leadership, and MA in Leadership Studies. Prior to joining CLS he was a research psychologist at the Institute for Work Psychology, University of Sheffield. He has an extensive publication history, including numerous journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, and research reports.

Jonathan Gosling trained as an anthropologist before working for several years as a mediator in neighbourhood conflicts in London. After taking a mid-career MBA, he moved into management education at Lancaster University, where he directed the MBA and other executive programmes, and co-founded, with Henry Mintzberg, a new approach to management education: the International Masters in Practising Management. In 2003 Jonathan joined the University of Exeter as Director of the Centre for Leadership Studies and Professor of Leadership Studies. He has published articles in numerous key management and leadership journals, and several books, including: Nelson's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Commander (2005, Brealey), Leadership: the Key Concepts (2007, Routledge), and John Adair: Fundamentals of Leadership (2007, Palgrave Macmillan). Jonathan advises companies, international agencies, and government departments on their leadership-related issues.

Beverley Hawkins has been a lecturer at the Centre for Leadership Studies at the University of Exeter Business School since January 2009. She has published work on recruitment and selection practices, leadership and corporate culture, resistance to leadership and teamworking practices.

Scott Taylor is Reader in Leadership & Organization Studies, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. Before this he worked as a senior lecturer in the Centre for Leadership Studies at University of Exeter Business School, and has lectured and researched at Manchester Metropolitan, Open, Birmingham, and Essex universities, where he was involved in under- and postgraduate education.

Exploring Leadership

Individual, Organizational, and Societal Perspectives

Richard Bolden, Jonathan Gosling, Beverley Hawkins, and Scott Taylor

Reviews and Awards

"This is no ordinary book on leadership. It is an engaging and highly readable exploration of our assumptions about leadership and management, balancing its examination across disciplines, levels of analysis, and issues of leadership ethics and leadership effectiveness. This book brings life to theory and presents a critical perspective that is both refreshing and provocative--certain to inspire students, practitioners, and scholars alike."--Ellen Van Velsor, Senior Fellow - Research, Innovation & Product Development, Center for Creative Leadership

"This multi-authored volume provides an engaging exploration of leadership from a variety of perspectives, but still manages to speak with a clear and compelling voice. The authors explain a wide range of issues and ideas in a lively manner that will involve readers in the uncovering of assumptions and the making of connections across contexts and disciplines. Exploring Leadership will encourage and inform reflection and debate among those who study, research, and participate in the dynamics of leadership on the personal, organizational, social, and even global level."--Eric Guthey, Associate Professor of Intercultural Communication and Management, Copenhagen Business School

"The people at the Centre for Leadership Studies have done it again. In taking a critical, interdisciplinary, multilevel perspective on leadership, they take the reader on a rollercoaster ride that is memorable. By enabling more critical reflections on leadership theory, development, and practice, this book is a must read for anyone interested in this highly complex topic."--Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries, Clinical Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change, INSEAD